ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal (ABNJ) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly scholarly publication dedicated to the exploration and advancement of biological sciences. The journal serves as a global nexus for researchers, academics, and practitioners to share innovative findings and critical insights in biodiversity, ecology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, and related disciplines.
Role of Forest Ecosystems in Carbon Sequestration
Forest ecosystems are very important in reducing climate change since it is one of the best carbon sinks that take in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere via the biological process. The sequestration of carbon in forests is primarily by the process of photosynthesis in which carbon is sequestered in the tree biomass, soil of the forest and organic matter. This process helps in control of carbon cycle in the world as well as reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As temperatures are increasing globally and human activity rises as a result of activities including emissions, there has been a growing interest in the relevance of the carbon sequestration of forests in the environmental research and policy frameworks. This paper will analysis how forest ecosystems helps in carbon sequestration by loosing which carbon s are stored in the woods, the contribution of various parts of the forest, the impact of forest management and land-use change. The review alludes that well managed and healthy forests has contributed greatly in carbon storage capacity and the sequestration potential is lowered by deforestation and degradation of forests. It is imperative to know how the forest functions ecologically, in order to come up with effective climate mitigation strategies. The paper identifies the importance of conservation, a sustainable forest management and afforestation programs that would be used to maximise carbon removal and reach global climatic objectives.
Forest ecology, Carbon management, climate change, management, Carbon ring of carbon cycle, Biomass carbon Soil carbon.
Copyright (c) 2026 Syeda Okasha Javed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Plant Tissue Culture Techniques for Crop Improvement
Plant tissue culture refers to a series of in vitro methods which can be used to grow and reproduce plant cells, tissues, and organs in a controlled laboratory environment. These methods have turned out to be major in contemporary farming, as it offers the means of quick multiplication, genetic enhancement, eradication of diseases and germplasm conservation. In case of plants requiring low seed viability or long reproductive cycles, the use of tissue culture enables the generation of genetically homogeneous and quality plants, which is not always possible with other traditional propagation techniques. The latest developments in plant biotechnology, such as micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, and protoplast culture have played a major role in crop improvement programs, as they have provided opportunity to introduce desirable traits such as disease resistance, stress tolerance and nutritional quality enhancement. Also, genetic modification is done using tissue culture whereby plant genomes are altered with high precision and where biotic and abiotic stress-resistant genes can be inserted. This paper will examine the existing methods in plant tissue culture and how it is utilized in the enhancement of crops with reference to how this method can be used to improve food security, guarantee sustainable agriculture and add to the crop production in the world. The results highlight the necessity to include tissue culture technologies in the breeding initiatives and create the effective protocols in relation to various crop species.
Plant tissue culture, Micropropagation, Somatic embryogenesis, Organogenesis, Genetic transformation, Crop improvement, Biotechnology In vitro propagation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bilal Ahmed Awan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Waste Management Technologies for Sustainable Development
Population explosion, urbanization, industrialization and changing consumption patterns have contributed to a significant extent in the large and advanced amount of solid waste around the world. The environmental, health and economic sustainability of the people is life threatening due to poor waste management techniques. Sophisticated technologies in waste management, in response, have emerged as critical tools of achievement of sustainable development. In this research paper, the researcher analyzes innovative technologies in waste management, including waste-to-energy, the recycling technologies, biological treatment technology and smart digital technologies and concludes what kind influence they have on environmental safety, resource management and socio-economic development. The research paper is a literature review of the study conducted to investigate the application of technological interventions in the minimization of landfill dependency, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, conservation of natural resources, and maintenance of the idea of circular economy. The findings show that the availability of sophisticated technologies with favourable policies and institutional structures should be regarded to be of great benefit in enhancing sustainability of the waste management systems. The paper sheds light on how the world waste problems can be solved using technology to apply an integrated management of waste to enhance sustainable development in the long term.
Waste Management Technologies, Sustainable Development
Copyright (c) 2026 Israr Ahmed , Saad Aziz Ajmal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Development
Being important to the well-being of humans and environmental sustainability, ecosystem services play an important role in the provisioning of ecosystems, regulating of ecosystems, supporting services, and cultural services. These services, though vital, are not taken seriously in the process of making economic and policy decisions which results in unsustainable usage of natural resources. The valuation of ecosystem services gives a guide on how to quantify their ecological, social, and economic values and uses it to make wise decisions by policymakers, planners, and communities. This paper will discuss the ecosystem service valuation methods such as market based method, contingent valuation and benefit transfer method, and evaluate its applicability in the sustainable development plan. The review presents the importance of ecosystem service valuation in conservation, resource management, and property policy, which the combination of ecological and economic points of view can facilitate sustainability. The results also show that appropriate valuation can help to improve environmental governance, foster the efficient distribution of resources, and facilitate the sustainable development objectives, whereas the lack of valuation may result in the ecological decline and losses in social-economic life. Generally, this research paper highlights the importance of identifying, quantifying, and integrating ecosystem services in developmental planning in order to make the human and ecological systems resilient in the long-term.
Ecosystem services, Valuation Sustainable development ,Natural resource management, Economic assessment, Environmental policy.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rizwan Ullah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Biodiversity Loss and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity provides comfort and sustainability of the ecosystem because it provides the much needed services to maintain human operations. However, all these are being consumed at an extremely rapid rate with excessive use of natural resources, destruction of habitat, climate change, pollution and human activities leaving behind almost no biodiversity. The reduction of species richness and genetic diversity has direct effects to the ecosystem services which include the provision, regulation, cultural and supporting services that destabilize the ecological balance and sustenance of the human beings. The given paper ponders upon the sophisticated nature of the correlation between the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effect of species extinction on the ecosystem functioning. The argument is that it is necessary to have the practices of sustainable management and conservation strategies that can be in place to reduce the losses of biodiversity and preserve the ecosystem services that can be utilized by the future generations. These findings all have an implication of the significance of the biodiversity as it relates to the need to balance the ecosystem and socio economic consequences of the loss of the same.
human well-being, conservation, degradation of the habitats.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Shakeel Khan, Hafiz Muhammad Asadullah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Biotechnological Application of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Medicinal Plants for Novel Antimicrobial Compounds
Asymptomatic endophytic fungi that live in plant tissues have become a prolific source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties. Medicinal plants possess varied endophytic communities, capable of producing secondary metabolites similar to their host and provide possibilities of drug discovery. This paper examines the isolation and characterisation of endohytic fungi of chosen medicinal plants, and its ability to produce antimicrobial products. The fungal isolates were propagated under the best laboratory conditions, and crude extracts subjected to Gram positive, Gram negative bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Some of these isolates were found to have a high level of antimicrobial activity and hence can be used as a biotechnological resource in the development of novel treatments. These results indicate that endophytic fungi are important in the identification of novel antimicrobial agents as well as underscoring their potential uses in pharmaceutical and industrial fields.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hassan Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Urbanization on Avian Species Diversity in Southern Punjab, Pakistan
Urbanization in many parts of the world including Southern Punjab, Pakistan is one of the biggest contributors to habitat changes and loss of biodiversity, but the impact on the avian species diversity has not been well studied in most of the areas. This paper explores the effect of urbanization on bird communities in terms of species richness, abundance, and community structure of urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes. The point count and transect techniques were used to collect data in the breeding and non-breeding seasons to ensure that the temporal variation was captured in field surveys. Analyses of data was done to compare the indices of species diversity, population dynamics, and association with the habitat. Findings show that there has been a severe reduction in species richness and evenness in regions with high human populations and that in urban regions, generalist and synanthropic species are predominant in the urban avifauna. Conversely, rural and semi natural habitats favored more species of specialists and sensitive species. The results highlight the need to incorporate green spaces in urban planning, habitat corridors as well as conservation measures to reduce the adverse effects of urbanization on avian diversity. This work will give the baseline information on biodiversity conservation in the region and create the necessity of the policies of sustainable urban development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Umar Ishaq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effects of Pesticide Residues on Soil Biodiversity and Enzymatic Activities in Cotton Fields
Another common activity in the cotton farming is pesticide use to control the pests and achieve high production. Nevertheless, the constant and heavy application of pesticides may contribute to the build-up of pesticides in the soil that will have negative consequences on the biodiversity and enzyme activities of soil which are important pointers to the stability of the soil and its fertility. The paper examines how pesticides residues affect the soil microbial community and vital enzymatic activities in cotton fields in Punjab, Pakistan. The samples of the soils of different fields with a different history of the pesticide application were taken and analyzed as to the concentration of the residual pesticides, microbial diversity through culture-based and molecular methods, and enzymatic activities such as dehydrogenase, urease, and phosphatase. Findings indicated that an increase in pesticide residues was associated with a decrease in microbial diversity, inhibition of helpful microbial groups, and enzymatic activity, which means that the soil is dysfunctional. These results highlight the ecological threat posed by excess use of pesticides and why integrated pest management approach should be adopted to ensure sustainable soil in cotton agroecosystem.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Saad Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effect of Urban Tree Planting Campaigns on Temperature Reduction in Lahore’S Busy Markets
The urban heat islands (UHIs) are a worrying problem to the giant urban metropolises in third world countries, such as Lahore, Pakistan. This has led to increased surface and air temperature in commercial locations due to rapid urbanization, high vehicular emissions as well as the loss of vegetation. This is a pilot study that examines how urban tree planting campaign will reduce the temperature in the busiest markets in Lahore City, which include Liberty Market, Anarkali Bazaar, and Ichhra. The study examines the connection between city vegetation and enhancement of microclimate, based on satellite images and local temperature measurements and field data. The initial results reveal that the tree-cover market areas record 2 to 3 degrees C lower surfaces than areas without trees highlighting the need of tree forestry as a sustainable climate change response. The paper demonstrates that there is an urgent need to develop integrated urban greening measures to reduce heat stress, expand thermal comfort, and increase environmental sustainability in business areas in Lahore.
Copyright (c) 2025 Furqan Naseer (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessing Microplastic Contamination Effects on Soil Microbial Communities in Agricultural Land
The microplastic pollution is reported with increasing frequency in the agricultural soils but its effect on the microbial populations in the soil is not well understood. This is a critical issue as the soil microorganisms are essential in the cycling of nutrients as well as soil fertility. This paper discusses the effects of microplastics on microbial diversity, abundance and enzymatic activity of soil. The sample of soil was taken in agricultural fields that had various degrees of exposure of microplastic. Microplastics were isolated with the help of density separation and microbial communities were examined with the help of 16S rRNA sequencing and enzyme assays. Evidence indicates that an increased level of microplastic decreases microbial biomass and changes the bacterial-fungal community structure. There were also major decreases of nitrogen related and carbon related enzyme activities. The paper presents a conclusion that microplastics are a quantifiable threat to the well-being of soil. This fact proves that there is need to establish better approaches in the waste-management in agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mudabbir Sadiq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Women’s Role in Agriculture and Rural Development: Challenges, Contributions, and Prospects for Sustainable Growth
Women in agriculture and rural development are important to the world at large because their contribution to issues of food security, poverty alleviation and resiliency in rural areas is very important. Though they are of vital importance to all of these, women are often restricted through systemic barriers including limited access to land, financial services, technology and education. This text will be investigating the role of women in agriculture, the contribution that they make to the economy and society, barriers to overcome inequalities, and the potential that women farmers have to be empowered to act as change makers for sustainable rural development. Drawing on both global and regional experience, we will stress the importance of gender responsive agricultural policies and inclusive method of conducting agriculture, on the contrary of excluding women, to harness the ability of women to act as change makers in rural economies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Saima Yousaf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Organic vs. Conventional Farming: A Comparative Analysis of Productivity and Profitability
Two primary farming structures are natural and traditional, each having a exclusive impact on sustainability, meals security, and monetary performance. This paper gives a comparative have a look at in their productiveness and profitability so as to decide long-time period viability. The examine is primarily based totally on a story evaluation of scholarly articles and reviews at the FAO and worldwide case research to research versions in yields, fee frameworks, exertions depth and marketplace dynamics. Findings suggest that the conventional shape of farming is much more likely to provide extra consistent with hectare because of the usage of chemical compounds and the usage of equipment and due to the fact the conventional farming may be extra beneficial withinside the area of interest markets, with decrease environmental fees and a wholesome soil withinside the long-time period. However, natural farming is characterised with the aid of using enormous drawbacks, together with low productiveness withinside the quick time period, the charges of certification, and a loss of scale. The studies unearths that the profitability of natural structures is strongly dependant at the call for of the marketplace, while the conventional strategies nevertheless have their blessings in huge scale production. These outcomes suggest the relevance of holistic regulations and combined farming structures that might be used to strike a stability among productiveness and sustainability for you to assemble resilient meals structures withinside the future.
profitability and sustainable agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Fatima Zahra (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Agriculture: Historical Evolution, Practices, and Future Prospects
Agriculture has been the mainstay of human society, as the principal source of food, fiber and raw material for centuries. From early subsistence farming in formative stages to the modern industrialized versions, agriculture has been revolutionized right from the depth to reflect the improvements in technology, science, and socio-economic arrangements. This research paper refers to history of agriculture, various types of agricultural systems and techniques and how the current technologies such as biotechnology, precision agriculture and sustainable agriculture come in. It also discusses the importance of soil management, water management and crop management in maintaining productivity and then on to an analysis of environmental impacts including loss of biodiversity, loss of forests and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, socio-economic importance of agriculture in the context of employment, rural upliftment and food security is brought out. The article also enumerates challenges facing present day agriculture such as climate change, population increase, resource constraints while describing the future in a focused manner on sustainability, innovation and resilience. Through integration of the historical insights and up-to-date concerns, this research illuminates the important role of agriculture in the development of societies and its potential to play a role in global issues of food security and sustainability.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Muhammad Hassan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of Organic Farming in Sustainable Food Systems
Organic agriculture has emerged as one of the focal means of confronting the pressing problem of world food security, ecological degradation, as well as human health. Although the conventional agriculture continues to require synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and monocultures, it is a significant contributor to the loss of biodiversity, degradation of soil and global warming. Organic agriculture, which is founded on ecological concepts, is concerned with natural health of soil, crop diversity, and reduced use of chemicals, therefore, it is very important in sustainable food systems. The article talks of the history of evolution, principles, environmental implications and economic factors and policy backgrounds of organic agriculture. It also brushes over the issues of the scaling of organic agriculture including yield gaps, certification barriers, and market restrictions. By integrating case studies and current literature, the article reveals the significance of organic farming to the achievement of ecological balance, safeguarding of human health and long-term food security. The findings show that organic farming alone will not be able to fully substitute conventional systems but it is important to include it in the overall agricultural policy and practices to reshape towards sustainability in the world food production.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Ayesha Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Use of Drones in Precision Agriculture
Precision agriculture has transformed modern farming through the use of drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to help farmers make decisions and manage their resources based on data. Drones provide farmers with real-time high-resolution data on the condition of crops and the heterogeneity of the soil, irrigation needs, pest numbers, and yield mapping. The technology facilitates site-specific management practices which augments productivity, reduces resources and promotes environmental sustainability. Despite the massive potential that drones have, challenges such as high upfront costs, legal challenges, minimal battery life, and the need to hire skilled pilots are all massive barriers to widespread adoption. In this paper, we explore the historical view, technical principles, applications, merits, and demerits of drones in precision agriculture as well as their future prognosis.. By examining case studies and actual applications, it gives a clear picture of how drone technology can transform agricultural practices, enhance food security, and enable sustainable agricultural growth in the twenty-first century.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Rohan Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
profitability and sustainable agriculture
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Kamran Ahmed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Diversity of Spiders (Arthropoda, Araneae, Arachnida) in Dir Lower KP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
Analysis included a representative of several families including Thomisidae, Araneidae, Gnaphosidae, Pholicidae, Salticidae, Clubionidae, Scytodidae, and Sparassidae. Population of Thomisidae spiders, which included Diaea evanida and Thomisus pugilis, comprised 7.4% of the specimens and were recorded in environments with floral structures exhibiting higher temperatures (25-30 °C), high humidity (60-75%), and higher light intensity. These spiders are important for insect population management surrounding flowering plants according to Schausberger and Raser (2013). Population of Araneidae spiders included Araneus diadematus and Neoscona theis, comprised 12.2% and known to construct webs in gardens. The environmental conditions came from moderate temperatures (20-25 °C), moderate humidity (50-60%) and moderate light conditions of araneidae over longer periods involved significant pest regulation as noted by Eubanks et al. (2016). A combined population of Gnaphosidae, and Pholicidae spiders comprised up to 3 species; Gnaphosa eucalyptus; and Artema atlanta, represented 9.8% of the specimens. These spiders are flexible in habitat selection from dry woods to urban structures, showing adaptations to cooler temperatures (20-25 °C), lower humidity (40-55%) with various light conditions as evidence by Platnick (2014). Population of Salticidae included Marpissa tigrina; and Plexippus paykullii; represented 4.9% of specimens collected favoring higher temperatures (25-30 °C)500), adaptable humidity 700; stress healthy light intensity higher than low levels. Foelix (2011) suggests these spiders play significant roles in regulating small insects.Overall, spiders from the Clubionidae, Scytodidae, and Sparassidae families, formed 3.7% of specimens, exhibited varied behaviours and preferences and adaptations to moderate temperatures (20-25C), and shaded areas, and with the exception of Araneidae, most had varied behaviours as described by the World Spider Catalog (2023). The research highlights considerable differences in the ecological preferences of the spiders that influenced spider distribution, where for example, Araneus diadematus and Arctosa littoralis preferred lower temperatures (20-25C), while Diaea evanida and Thomisus pugilis preferred elevated temperatures (25-30°C). Preferential habitat distribution was also affected by the environmental factors of humidity and light intensity, where included Diaea evanida noted high humidity and Gnaphosa eucalyptus noted lower humidity preferences. This research illustrates the ecological role of spiders reflecting their varied predatory behaviours and environmental adaptations to prey species they prefer. Crab spiders and garden spiders play a role in pest control in those environments; and, the ecological flexibility of Gnaphosidae and Pholicidae, as well as the active predation role of Salticidae are great indicators of how spiders kept the ecological role and balance in habitats clean. We recommend consider expansion on spider conservation, more action on relevant research, promotion of awareness/education of spiders, combined with pest management strategies that incorporate spiders, and actions to consider more event on climate change, to protect spider diversity and ecological services.
Copyright (c) 2025 ACADEMIA Biota Nexus Journal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Insect Pollinators on Canola Crops Peshawar
The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, team conducted a study with the aim of studying the detailed activity of the community of pollinators, that are interacting within the canola crop during, 2019-2020, at the newly development farm (NDF). This research was able to report a diverse community of insect pollinators, with 15 species, from a variety of orders and families. One aspect of the study, which were are happy to report is the species composition of said pollinators. A highlight was the order Diptera, that had 8 species. Also fairly representative was family Syrphidae, which is known for its pollination services, which was also well-represented with 7 species. The family Apidae, which is part of the order Hymenoptera, had 4 species. To complete the picture of insects interacting in the canola, there were two more species of Lepidoptera and one of Coleoptera. Of significance were the activity patterns of the all these pollinators. Of interest is the European (honey) bees, mainly species of Apis mellifera, remained consistently active throughout the day, as the main pollinator for the canola. Similarly, European hoverflies, represented by Eristalis tenax, showed an impressive consistency in activity, further supporting their role in contributing to pollination. Hoverflies, the most abundant members of the dipteran family Syrphidae, served as important participants in the pollination role. To a lesser degree, other common hover flies such as the Common hover fly (Ischiodon scutellaris), and long hover fly (Sphaerophora scripta), showed considerable biomass during falls from the group. Their consistent presence and activity show their importance in the reproductive success, and ultimately, seed production for canola plants. In addition, while the individual role of specific pollinator species is important, the research also emphasized the importance of conserving biodiversity within canola fields. As it illustrated to us the importance of benefits in biodiversity when presenting diverse and functional floral resources, the conclusion of the study reflected an urgency to enact steps to conserve, and effectively manage, pollinator species. Conservation and management practices are important in stabilizing the sustainability of canola populations and farm production longevity using sustainable cropping production methods.
Population Fluctuations of Sucking Insect Pests on Canola (Brassica Napus L.) In Peshawar
The study taken at The University of Agriculture Peshawar in winter 2022 surveyed the density of sucking insect pests on canola crops. Aphids, whitefly, jassids, and thrips populations and their natural enemies were obtained from the samples collected. The results of the survey showed that the highest infestation of aphids occurred during the 2nd week of November at (3.1 aphids/leaf), while whitefly (2.8 aphids/leaf), jassids (2.7 aphids/leaf), thrips (2.3 aphids/leaf) were next highest in population density. Among the four sucking insect pests delay among them, aphids had a higher population density than thrips with the lowest. The mean number of predators showed some significant differences between the first two observations, with the population densities for ladybird beetles, green lacewing, and syrphid flies surveyed at the study area..
Diversity and Ecological Associations of Insect Fauna of Koh E Moor Forest District Bajaur Ex Fata
The present inquiry seeks to illuminate the diversity and ecological relationships of insect fauna with wild host plants in Bajaur District , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The order Hemiptera showed the greatest diversity , with 7 genera among the families Cicadellidae and Delphacidae, followed by Coleoptera with 4 genera and Orthoptera with 2 genera. A total of 14 genera from 3 orders, 6 families, and 8 subfamilies were documented. The Cicadellidae (Deltocephalinae) was the most species-rich subfamily, comprising 5 genera , including Exitianus, Hishimonus, Chiasmus, Stirellus, and Aconurella. The attachment of hemipterans to plant hosts showed a strong preference for members of the families Poaceae and Cyperaceae, while coleopterans showed a preference for Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Apocynaceae . Orthopterans such as Chortophaga and Poekilocerus were discovered mainly on Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, and Apocynaceae . To confirm identification and ecological relationships , morphological diagnostics, species diversity , and detailed keys to genera were used. The study provides important baseline data for biodiversity assessment and conservation in arid ecosystems and highlights the importance of wild flora for the conservation of insect diversity. The results offer potential for ecological monitoring , biological control strategies, and further taxonomic research in understudied dry habitats.